Category: Unicef

Last October’s UNICEF Auction for Action included these signed books donated by National Book Store.

So much has happened in the last quarter of 2013 that I had forgotten to give the final update of UNICEF’s 3rd Auction for Action. We were able to raise over 2.9 million pesos during that 7-day online auction. Thank you to all the artists who donated their work. Thank you to everyone who placed bids and supported this fundraising drive. The proceeds of Auction for Action 3 went to the rehabilitation of safe places for children affected by conflict in Zamboanga. UNICEF works non-stop to protect children in all areas that experienced emergencies – like Zamboanga, Bohol and of course, Yolanda-stricken areas.

When the new year started, I got a message from Rica Dimayuga of Roxas City, Capiz. She won the bid for one of the books — The Bouchon Bakery by Thomas Keller and Sebastien Rouxel. The book was more than a prize or a way of supporting UNICEF, it also gave her hope and inspiration during the most trying times when Yolanda struck their city. I have permission to repost parts of her email below.

“I won this book from the UNICEF auction. I was able to get hold of it day before YOLANDA hit Roxas City, Capiz where I am residing. For almost one month of no electricity, this book was my companion every night before going to bed, reading with my flashlight. With all the devastation around (damaged homes) this book transported me to somewhere I can relax, plan and get excited again in baking… Thank you so much! We will forever support UNICEF.” — Rica Dimayuga

Rica’s husband took this photo in Roxas City on December 18. “The Unicef flag is flying up high in our city plaza. Together with flags of Japan and Canada… They all came here and helped the province of Capiz after the typhoon. The province won’t be able to cope faster without the help of others.”

“Days after electricity was restored, I made this… NOUGAT! Recipe from BOUCHON BAKERY cookbook. One week before the auction, i listed 3 items, 2 paintings and this book. We were in Phuket that time and signal was bad. Won the book 20 seconds before the auction closed. After reading the book, I always wrap it in a plastic bag and place it in a safe place. Our roof was damaged and some of our glass windows were broken, I was worried that in case it rains and water will go inside the house… My book might get wet.” — Rica Dimayuga.

Thank you Rica for sharing your story. I am so touched and inspired by your act of generosity. And thank you National Book Store for your gift of this book. Not only did it provide inspiring recipes for the kitchen, but in Rica’s case it gave her a recipe for getting their lives back after Haiyan.

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It hasn’t been easy to get back to normal. Every day, I still cry. It’s a mix of sadness, frustration, fear. But there’s a lot of work to be done. Since the typhoon struck, I haven’t stopped trying to help connect people and groups with transportation and recipients. It was all I could do knowing I couldn’t personally go there and look for survivors. It was very difficult the first days when communication lines were down. But we didn’t let that stop us. I think when you are an individual and this emergency happens, you just find a way to help and make things move.

The devastation of Haiyan is a global concern. For all of us Filipinos, it is very personal. I have family in Ormoc City. I was there last July to attend my grand aunt’s birthday party. I worried about them, they are so old and frail. My cousin runs a hospital there. He also lost the roof of his home. But he continued to work at the hospital. For a few days it was the only operational hospital in Ormoc. My friends raised money, bought medicines and food, sent them on a small private plane and gave them to my cousin’s hospital within days.

I also have a friend whom I thought didn’t make it after I saw the damage in Guiuan, Samar. I feared for her safety. But after a few days we heard she and her family made it and are now busy helping out the community. And I am so grateful for that. One day I hope she can tell her story. I want to give her a big hug.

There is an outpouring of support from all over the world. Our country needs that now. And I am so proud to be associated with UNICEF because they respond really swiftly and focus on the needs of children and families. One of the most crucial tasks is providing safe drinking water and sanitation. After this type of emergency, damage to water pipes and infrastructure severely compromised water supplies. UNICEF first worked on water supply. As of yesterday UNICEF, with the help of the Philippine Army and USAID, restored clean water in most of Tacloban. You can read about it here. You can see how fast and efficient your aid gets to the ones who need it most through UNICEF’s effort.

As of Nov 15, UNICEF distributed hygiene kits in Tacloban. These kits included detergent and laundry soap, bath soap, water containers, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and sanitary pads. UNICEF has sent trucks with approximately US $142,000 worth of water, sanitation and hygiene supplies. These include water purification tablets, water tanks to support 45,000 people a day with drinking water, latrine slabs, and hygiene kits for another 15,000 people. UNICEF has sent similar supplies to Roxas, including water tanks, to support up to 19,000 people; water purification tablets, and squatting plates to set up latrines for 8,500 people in that city.

Tomoo Hozumi said tents, diarrhoeal disease kits, emergency hygiene kits for 90,000 patients and tarpaulins for shelter are to be delivered in Tacloban in the next days as the aid effort continues. UNICEF is also mobilizing education support and supplies to the to the most affected areas. These include tents, Early Childhood Development (ECD kits), student school packs and teachers’ packs as well as library kits for delivery to the most affected areas. Source: Unicef website.

After having seen what Typhoon Bopha/Pablo did in Davao Oriental are last year, I know this is going to be a long one. But help is already on the ground and more coming. Please keep your donations coming. UNICEF is requesting US $34.3 million as part of a US $301 million United Nations Flash Appeal for the Philippines, to provide essential humanitarian supplies and services through May 2014. Here is the video we made for my appeal as Special Advocate for Children. UNICEF website shows our call for donations, including Gary V’s as Goodwill Ambassador.

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Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) pummelled through the central part of the Philippines on November 8, 2013. It left a storm of destruction in its wake, triggering 12 to 15 feet high storm surges, flooding, and landslides affecting an estimated 4 million people. Children urgently need access to safe water, hygiene supplies, food, shelter and a safe environment to recover.

Our resources are stretched from responding to three emergencies in a row within two months: armed conflict in Zamboanga, the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol–and now, super typhoon Yolanda. We urgently need your help so we can aid those who are severely affected by this latest disaster.

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This was the surprise video shown at my contract-signing event for UNICEF. The team put together this compilation of some of the work I’ve done with them the past three years. I didn’t realize we had been to so many places in a short time.

Last August I renewed my contract as Special Advocate for Children of UNICEF Philippines. It has been three years since I started my work with UNICEF. So much has happened since. We had a formal signing ceremony with UNICEF Representative Tomoo Hozumi. It was one of those moments that made me feel so proud because I am given a chance to do good work with this very important UN children’s agency.

At the event, the team talked about what it means to be chosen to work with UNICEF. The media release reads, “UNICEF celebrities are luminaries from various fields who all share dedication to improving the lives of children worldwide. Daphne joins the ranks of famous personalities such as David Beckham, Jackie Chan, Mia Farrow, Queen Rania of Jordan, Shakira, and UNICEF Philippines National Goodwill Ambassador Gary Valenciano in lending a strong voice that will draw attention to children’s issues.”

They showed us a video of Sir Roger Moore’s 20th year with UNICEF and it brought me to tears when he said “Unicef means doing something decent for the rest of my life…” Then right after, they showed my video.

Renewing my contract as Special Advocate for Children. With UNICEF Representative Tomoo Hozumi.

I began my journey with UNICEF in early 2010 as a breastfeeding advocate. I went to a few sites around the country to speak about the many challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers and the support they needed to successfully breastfeed their babies. As part of my duties as Special Advocate, I’ve also been able to bring attention to important children’s issues such as early childhood care, clean water, malnutrition and armed conflict. I visited Ondoy-affected mothers in Laguna, mothers and infants in Sarangani, malnourished children in the ARMM/Maguindanao, frontline breastfeeding workers in Taguig and families displaced by Typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental.

Now, in addition to the humanitarian work I do, I am also involved with fundraising. Not many people know that UNICEF is funded entirely from donations. In 2011, they allowed me to come up with an online art and design auction. We just finished the third Auction for Action — another success. Proceeds from the art auction will continue to benefit many children, giving them to access early childhood care and education programs.

I am brought back to my last big trip with UNICEF last March 2013, 100 days after Typhoon Pablo hit Davao Oriental. It was one of the biggest storms that hit our country. Three months after the emergency, UNICEF and other international organizations were still on site working to get things back to normal for the thousands of children affected by the storm. This was one of the most emotional trips I took with UNICEF — the people I met from humanitarian workers to the families who needed assistance touched me deeply. And I promised to tell their stories.

The magnitude and scale of the damage was something I’d never seen. Three months after the storm, many international agencies were still on site trying to restore a sense of normalcy.

We drove for hours from Davao International Airport and saw this common scene of fallen and naked trees. What made relief work complicated then was the inaccessibility and distance of the damaged areas from the city.

With the team leader of the American Catholic Relief group at one of the “tent cities” supported by UNICEF.

Some of the professionals had been in Davao Oriental for three months then. I was there for a few days and left with life-changing lessons.

A daycare centre in Purok Sampaguita at Poblacion Daycare Center in Boston, Davao Oriental where Teacher Jocelyn was helping little kids cope with their fear of nature by introducing rain-themed song and dances. Most of these children witnessed great loss including death during Typhoon Pablo.

Also at Purok Sampaguita, Poblacion Daycare Center, this young boy recounts what he witnessed during the storm. Photo by Kat Palasi

At Dapnan Elementary School in Baganga, Davao Oriental where almost every school building was destroyed.

This young boy runs through the ruins of the old school’s main building which was originally built during the American colonial period.

There were only two classrooms left untouched by the storm at Dapnan Elementary School. Kids were back to regular schedule then (100 days after the storm).

Most levels were integrated and classrooms were shared.

Some kids were still in tents then.

One of the fifth-graders shared with me her diary about the events. She was among the students who hid in the main building which eventually was completely blown away by the storm.

I don’t often get to go on these humanitarian missions. In the few times I’ve gone, I’ve had to think more than twice about leaving my own kids for a few days. I wish that kids don’t have to be exposed to so much danger and distress. Unfortunately this is the reality of living in our country. We are right in the Pacific “Ring of Fire” – where earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and storms are common. The key is for local governments and individuals to be prepared.

A very sweet older brother.

I will never forget this mother. She was recalling the moments when Typhoon Pablo struck and how they are coping three months after. She said that every time her little daughter would hear thunder or strong winds, she’d curl up and cry. She told me that as a mother the only thing she could do now is to hold her daughter tightly so she’d feel safe. Photo by Kat Palasi.

Fallen coconut trees. This was the scenery we saw driving through Davao Oriental for hours. Photo by Kat Palasi.

I often get asked by readers and viewers about how they, too, can be part of UNICEF. The easiest and fastest way to make a difference is by making a donation… especially at this time, with the many emergencies in our country.

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake last October 15, 2013 brought massive destruction to the province of Bohol. An estimated 380,000 people are now without homes or living in makeshift tents in open spaces or by the roadside. Children need safe drinking water, hygiene kits, toilets, adequate nutrition, shelter, and a safe learning environment to recover from this emergency.

03 Ann Ong’s Binanig clutch. This piece won the Katha Award in 2012 Manila FAME. It kick-started Ann’s successful career as a designer, giving her three consecutive awards after winning with this piece.

04 Leeroy New’s Entropy. An amazing piece from a very significant contemporary artist whose works have been worn by Lady Gaga. Leeroy is a Visual Arts graduate of the Philippine High School for the Arts and University of the Philippines Fine Arts.